Trundle hoop with bells attached



Nov. 25, 1958 J. M. BAKER 2,861,389

' TRUNDLE HOOP WITH BELLS ATTACHED Filed May 27, 1957 James M. Baker IN VEN TOR.

BY -mm course, not 116W.

United States Patent TRUNDLE HOOP WITH BELLS ATTACHED James M. Baker, West Hempstead, N. Y.

Application May 27, 1957, Serial No. 661,643

1 Claim. 01. 46-114) The present invention relates to a novel toy for use primarily by children and which produces jingle bell sounds when operated and has reference, more particularly speaking, to a trundle hoop, a push-pull handling and maneuvering stick and an operating connection between the distal or outer end of the stick and hoop and sound emitting means carried by said operating connection and actuatable when the hoop is in motion.

As is implied in the preceding general statement of the subject matter of the invention a trundle hoop and stick combination with sound producing means is, of A number of prior patents could perhaps be cited here as exemplary of the state of the art. It will suffice, it is believed, to narrow down this observation by merely referring to the fact that the instant invention is an improvement on prior art adaptations but particularly on my prior Patent 2,767,515 covering a trundle hoop with sounding means and issued October 23, 1956.

Reference being had to the prior patent it will be seen that it is characterized by a play hoop, a handle having an eye at its lower end which embraces or encircles the hoop in such a way that the hoop is allowed to roll along the ground freely in relation to the eye. The eye is equipped with a vibratory tongue which is engageable with notches and ribs on a cooperating surface of the hoop to produce sound effects as the hoop is rolled along the ground or other surface in a now generally well known manner.

Not being entirely satisfied with my prior efforts and with a view toward providing a construction which, it is believed, will meet with widespread adoption and use, an improved structural adaptation is being herein offered. Briefly, summarized, it has to do with a trundle hoop having smooth surfaces including an uninterrupted outer periphery functioning as a surface contacting tread, a manually maneuverable push-pull stick having suitable handle means at its proximal end and a laterally bent arm at its distal end, said arm terminating in an eye and said eye loosely encircling said hoop and providing a propelling and permanent operating connection between said stick and .hoop, and sound emitting means mounted for rotation on said eye, said means having a part thereof in friction driven contact with said tread.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on forming the eye with a U-shaped portion which is opposed to the tread and which lends itself to practical appropriation and use thereon of an idling shaft carrying a friction-type roller and jingle bells which, as they turn, provide the desired spirited sound effect so attractive to children.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing. Y

In the drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved trundle hoop, stick and jingle combination;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view with portions in section and elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and t 1 1 Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings the hoop is denoted by the numeral 4 and is a lightweight endless ring with smooth exterior surfaces and wherein the outer peripheral surface 6 serves not only as a satisfactory rolling tread but as a means to transmit motion to the bell operating shaft.

The linearly straight elongated push-pull stick, of suitable material and length is denoted by the numeral 8. The upward or proximal end portion of the stick is fashioned into an appropriate handle including, as a part thereof, a suitable whistle 10. The lower or distal end portion of the stick is provided with a right angularly disposed relatively short arm 12 the terminal end portion of which is bent upon itself to fashion and provide a novelly designed eye 14. As seen in the drawings the eye is such in construction that it encircles the hoop and provides a permanent operating connection between the stick and hoop. The eye loosely surrounds the hoop. Also, as perhaps best seen in Fig. 2, a median or intermediate portion of the tye is formed into a U-shaped stirrup Which is opposed to the tread and includes a bight portion 16 and a pair of parallel suitably spaced legs 18 having aligned appropriately positioned bearings 20. These bearings serve to accommodate end portions of a freely rotatable shaft 22. The central portion of the shaft spans the space of the stirrup or U-shaped portion and is provided with a rubber or an equivalent fixedly mounted shaft turning roller 24. This may be an appropriate rubber roller so arranged that its peripheral surface is contactible with the tread 6 as seen advantageously in Figs. 2 and 3. The end portions of the shaft is imparted to the shaft when the hoop is in motion.

It has been found that with applied agility and gradual acquisition of skill almost any normal child can learn in a minimum amount of time how to push, pull and otherwise maneuver the hoop by properly manipulating the stick. Once the hoop is upright and in motion the friction roller 24 may be brought into contact with the tread 6 so that the shaft 22 will rotate and sound the jingle bells 26.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A toy which produces jingle bell sounds when operated comprising a trundle hoop having smooth surfaces including an uninterrupted outer periphery functioning as a surface contacting tread, a manually maneuverable push-pull stick having suitable handle means at its proximal end and a laterally bent arm at its distal end, said arm terminating in an eye and said eye loosely encircling said hoop and providing a propelling and permanent operating connection between said stick and hoop, and sound emitting means mounted for rotation on said eye, said means having a part thereof in friction driven contact with said tread, said eye formed with a substantially U-shaped portion which is opposed to an outer peripheral surface of said tread, said sound emitting means being wholly mounted for operation onsaid U-shaped portion afidcomprising a shaft bridgingthe legs of said U-Shaped References Cited in the file of this patent portion and mounted for free rotation in bearings provided r W therefor in said legs, a friction-type roller fixed to the UNITED STATES PATENTS median portion of said shaft; located between said legs, 249,030 Du Four Nov. 1, 1881 and contacting said tread, and jingle bellsv fixed to end 5 403,232 Way May 14, 1889 portions of said shaft out vvardly of said legs and operable 932,451 Draper Aug. 31, 1909 when the shaft is in a state of rotation. 2,767,515 Baker Oct. 23, 1956 

